Gastroenterology nurse prescribing in China: A Delphi method

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology Nursing
• Pharmacology
• Health Policy

Background:

• Nurse prescribing is a growing global trend.
• The 'Healthy China' initiative promotes advanced practice roles for nurses.
• There is a need to define the scope of practice for nurses in gastroenterology medication management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific gastroenterology drugs suitable for nurse prescribing.
• To reach expert consensus on the scope of nurse prescribing in gastroenterology.
• To provide a foundational list for policy development in China.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi design was employed.
• 26 medical and nursing experts participated in two rounds of consultation (August-November 2019).
• Descriptive statistical software (IBM SPSS Ver. 22) was used for analysis.

Main Results:

• 37 gastroenterology drugs across nine categories were identified as relevant for Chinese nurses.
• Four drugs are recommended for independent prescribing.
• 24 drugs for collaborative prescribing, and nine for either independent or collaborative prescribing.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a reliable instrument for defining nurse prescribing of gastroenterology drugs in China.
• Results offer significant guidance for policy formulation and implementation.
• This work supports the expansion of nurse prescribing within China's healthcare system.